Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-03-31
Our Parish Mystery.

ttY. 1t was one oil the most commonplace Oh
English hamlets, inhabited only by fishermen
and farm laborers. Our yicarage, the grange,
and pretty little cottage called Sea View,
were the only respectable houses in the place
On our arrival at the parsonage Sea View cot
tage was TO let, and so all the society that
was to be had was that of the grange people,
the squire and his family Now, though MIR.
and Mrs. Dale were excellent people In their
way and very hospitablc there was certainly
some excuse for our wishing for an occasional
change Of society, and all the more so that We
had come to Saudville from one Of the most
fashionable towns in the north of England. II
heard one day from Mrs. Dale that Sea View
cottage had at last found tenant.
"And more than a mere tenant" added the
squire rsdiantly; "a person Of great dlstinc-
ton. / consider that that piece Of house
property has trebled in value since signed
the lease with Mrs. Mort"
"Mortl" I cried. ''You don't mean James
Mort, the author of "Georgette'
"The same" answered Mrs. Dale, smiling,
no doubt at my having confessed myself a
reader Of novels; 'the great novelist He has
taken the house for nine years"
Have you seen himi What is he likei"
asked anxiously.
NO. We have only seen his wife. She
came over from Dover yesterday. They have
Just arrived from Paris, where Mr.. Mort has
been living He was too fatigued to accom-
pany her. The passage from Calais had
greatly upset him. Mrs. Mort seems charm
ing person, though rather peculiar
"And when are they coming to live herem
"As soon as the house is in order. Wehave
got the men in now. Jobson promised ohavc
it ready in fortnight
About three weeks later my husband and
called on our new Pensioners. We were re-
ceivcd by Mrs Mort, who answered the bell
herself.
The parson and his wife, should say from
your look. Come in. l don't keep servant
you sec. Don't make noise. This way,
please
Twas somewhat astonished at this welcome,
which was gruffly and abruptly spoken. My
husband, could see from his preternaturally
solemn expression, was making violent effort
to control his laughter. Certainly Mrs. Mort
cut very comical figure. She was tall, fat
woman, with very red face, and was dressed
IN black gown, that might have been made in
Paris under the first empire. The waist came
up to close beneath the breast, and was cir
cled with flowing white sash. Her hair was
cut quite short, like a mans.
Suppressng our laughter as best VIC could We
followed her into the drawing room. We were
surprised TO find that the windows, which COM
manded an excellent view of the sea, had been
pastered over with red paper, which COM
plrtely hid the outside, and cast lurid
and unpleasant light over the interior OF
the room. The furniture consisted of a sofa
covered with black stuff, two arm-chairs en-
suite, two other chairs, piano and round
table. There was no carpet on the floor, and
the walls were simply whitewashed. The cell
Ing was stuck over with black paper. On the
table were various books which | recognized,
by their titles, as Mrs. Morris work. A picture
with its face turned TO the wall, hung over the
piano Over the door was fixed bracket, on
which stood large pastcr-cast bust, the head
of which was eXtinguished under paper fool S
cap
"We'n take the weather for granted" said
Mrs. Mort, motioning us to sit down. Lets
talk OF something else
certain that il had opened my mouth at that
moment ! should have burst into fits Of
laughter lie saw this and came to the
reissue.
Eve hope YOU are comfortably settled il
your new home Mrs. Mort" he said. How
do you like Ssnlvllc:'
'Sandvllc: oh, yes. Know nothing about
IT," retortcd the lady,
She had not sat down, but was stand nj
with her back to the wall, with her hands be
hind her.
You have not had the time TO see the
place yet" continued my husband. at Il
uuiet but very charming There are some de
lghtful walks by the seaside. 1t is just the
place for u literary man. Mr.. Mort will bt
delighted with It,"
ooh will hci" answered his wife.
BY the way, how is hew l asked. I'VE
had hoped to see him. trust he is not un
WE'LL
mo, he's asleep"
Asleep! ! presume he has not recovered
from the fatigue of his journey"
mo, it isn't that lie always sleeps in tn
day He works at night. 1t is an imitation
of BaIzac. Balzac, you know, used TO go T.
bed at 6 and get up at Il. Mort goes 10 be,
at 0 in the morning and gets up at 10 in The
evening lie has his tub then, and his break
fast, and begins writing Immediately after
ward when | say writing mean composing
He dictates, | write. | have been his zee
retary for years. Ever since he started as
novelist, in fact.
You must hud it very fstiguing work, y"
said. hope You get your proper sleep"
Yes. lie down on that sofa for an hot
Or so in the morning. That's all the sleep
want"
''llOw very unhealthy said my husban,
believe me. Mrs Mort am something
doctor, this is mos imprudent conduc
You can not run contrary TO the laws
health in this way without iucurriDg the pc
atty. Sleep is the first necessity
Don't quote Shakespeare on that subject,
Interrupted Mrs. Mort. Hes not appreciate
in this house. You sec him there extiI
gu:shed"
She pointed to the bnst over the door
That's Morris idea. 1t is rather spitefu
He Gays that William Shakespeare took all Il
ideas and left nothing for PROSPERITY to wri
about. The picture with its face to the wall
Victor Hugo's. Mort had written a book
Notre Dame. Impossible TO do ANYTHING wi
it. Hugo had monoPolized the subject. Thai
how We pay him out"
"Well, then" continued my husband, Sun
ing. II won't quote Shakespeare. But y
must not deprive yourself of sleep. 1t Is me
unwise. And another thing, light is a gre
essential TO health. Where the sun does n
enter the doctor will, you know" Tn
glancing at the darkened panes
"Ah. you're wondering why we have sh
out the view, the beautiful yiew,' of viii
our landlord spoke so much No, we do
care for views. Mort says that he takes
pleasure In views, for distance suggests s
greater distance and the eternal beyond
ircomprebensible problem with which he
always been unwilling to perplex his brain.
agree with him. A good stone wall or a di
window pane has ever sufficed my eyes to r
upon, for l am then at liberty to imag
things beyond as far more beautiful than vi
there really is as the landscapes of my lima
nation are more beautiful than those one r.
ly sees"
~ am sorry can't offer you any tea"
continued almost in the same breath. &C
have only one teapot, and my husband Ike
his cigars in it."
"Would il be indiscreet TO ask" / 6
''what work Mr.. Mort is at present enga
ont am anxlously looking forward for it